Detachable ornament setting



0a. 23, 1928. V W 1,689,124

J. E. FITZGERALD DETACHABLE ORNAMENT SETTING" Filed Aug. 26, 1926 Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

JOHN E. FITZGERALD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

DETACI-IABLE ORNAMENT SETTING.

Application filed. August 26, 1326. Serial No. 131,647.

My invention relates to detachable ornament settings.

My invention is adapted for use on rings, as specifically shown, lockets, sleeve buttons, breast pins and other articles of jewelry which have an ornament-thereon, and comprises means whereby any desired ornament may be inserted within a socket prov ded therefor in the article of jewelry. VVllllG I am aware that others have provided detachable ornament settings functioning in different manners, some by friction alone, so far as I am aware, I am the first to devise such a simple device whereby the ornament is positively secured to the article of jewelry on opposite sides thereof.

The article of jewelry itself is very often more expensive to manufacture, particularly in the case of elaborate rings, than the ornament itself, and there has been a large demand for different types of ornaments .in rings or similar articles of jewelry, such as initials, fraternal emblems, etc., and the result has been that the retail jeweler has had to tie up a very large amount of money by providing complete integral ornaments and articles of jewelry to supply the widely d1 vergent demand for different types of ornaments. WVhile I am aware, as stated, that others have invented types of detachable ornament settings, so far as I am aware,

none of these are at present on the market. The main object of my invention therefore is to provide a cheap, practical, detachable setting so that the retail jeweler may be able to keep a large supply of interchange able ornaments on hand with a minimum quantity of the more expensive articles of jewelry.

These and such other objects of my inventionas may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig, 1 is a side elevation of a finger ring provided with my improved detachable ornament setting.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of said ring. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of said ring taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View, similar to Fig. 3, showing the ornament detached from and immediately above the socket.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detached ornament, comprising a stone having a letter therein and enclosing frame.

Fig. .6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a portion of the ornament detached from and immediately above a portion of the socket enlarged to show the thinness ofthe cooperating lips.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, 10 generally indicates my improved detachable ornament setting.

While, as stated, my invention may be attached to any desired articles of jewelry, such as cuff links, breast pins, bar pins, brooches, etc., in my preferred embodiment I have shown it attached to the finger ring As stated, my invention comprises two 'parts, the ornament 14 and a socket 16, prefof desired ornaments 14 may be kept in stock by a retail eweler, each one of which may fit within the socket 16 provided therefor on the more expensive article of jewelry 12. I I

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I provide the ornament 14 with a groove 20 extending substantially around the entire side wall 24 thereof. Where the ornament comprises a stone 18 as specially shown, I preferably construct said groove 20 in a frame 22, substantially surrounding the side of said stone 18, said frame 22 having a downwardly projecting wall 24. In my preferred embodiment, said downwardly projecting wall 24 terminates in the down wardly and inwardly projecting preferably resilient lip 26, the groove 20 being on the outside of the wall of said frame 22 immediately abovesaid downwardly projectloo ing lip 26. The stone 18 may be provided a a which, in my preferred embodiment, com

prises the ring annulus 12, is provided with the socket 16, preferably forming an integral part thereof. Said socket 16 is provided with the upwardly projectingwall 30.. .In

my preferred embodiment, the upwardly 1 socket.

projecting wall 30 substantially terminates in the inwardly flaring preferably resilient, lip 32, in my preferred embodiment slightly larger than the lower. end of the downwardly and inwardly projecting lip 26 of said frame and slightly smaller than the normal perimeter of the wall 24 of said frame. Though I have shown the groove 20 on the side wall of the frame 22 and the inwardly projecting lip 32 on the side wall 30 of said socket 16, it is obvious that the relative positions thereof may be reversed without departing from the spirit of my invention, the essential feature of my invention being that the ornament is positively latched within the Though I have shown the ornament 14 as of oval shape, it is obvious that the ornament 14 and its co-operating socket. 16 may be constructed of any desired shape Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In use, as stated, the ornament 14 is placed immediately above the co-operating' socket 16 with the inwardly projecting lip 32 of the side wall 30 of said socket overlapping the lower end of the inwardly projecting lip 26 of the side wall 24 of the frame 22 and as either the wall 24 or the wall 30, as'shown in my preferred embodiment is resilient, it is obvious that as the ornament 14 is forced within the socket 16, the resilient portionof my invention namely, the side wall 24 of the frame and the side wall 30 of the socket chiefly in use the respective inwardly projecting lips 26 and 32 thereof will spring topermit the inwardly projecting lip 32 to engage within the co-operating groove 20 to firmly latch said ornament within said socket.

' In my preferred embodiment, I have shown both the wall 24 and the wall 30 resilient. It is obvious that the ornament 14 may be raised from said socket 16 by pressure exerted on said ornament prior to lifting it to cause the resilient lip 32 to spring out of the groove 20. This disengaging pressure may be exerted by either the finger nail or a pen knife or otherwise,

It is obvious that I have provided a practical, simple, inexpensive, detachable ornament setting adapted for use on any desired type of jewelry.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim' as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In combination, an 'ornament, a frame substantially surrounding the side of said ornament and firmly retaining said ornament within having a downwardly projecting resilient wall having a groove extending continuously around the outer side thereof below said groove and an article of jewelry I having a socket therein having an upwardly and inwardly projecting wall substantially terminating in an inwardly projecting continuous resilient lip slightly larger circumferent-ially than the lower end of the inwardly projecting frame lip and smaller circumferentially than the wall of'said frame, whereby when said frame is pressed within said socket to expand said resilient walls, said'inwardly projecting resilient socket lip may engage within said frame groove to secure said frame and contained ornament within said socket.

2. In combination, an ornamental member having a groove extending continuously around the side wall thereof spaced from the lower end thereof, and the end of said'side wall inwardly tapered below said groove and an article of jewelry having a socket therein having an upwardly and inwardly projecting continuous wall substantially terminating in an inwardly projecting resilient lip, slightly larger circumferentially than the lower end of said ornament side wall and smaller circumferentially than the side wall of said ornament, whereby when said ornament is pressed within said socket, said inwardly projecting resilient socket lip will expand and engage within said ornament groove to secure said ornament within said socket.

3. In combination, an ornament, a frame substantially surrounding the side of said ornament and firmly retaining said ornament within and having a downwardly projecting resilient wall, an article of jewelry having an upwardly projecting resilient wall, the projecting wall of one of said members having a groove extending continuously around a side thereof spaced from the end thereof and terminating in an inwardly projecting resilient lip beyond said groove and the projecting wall of the other of said members substantially terminating in a projecting continuous resilient lip, slightly larger circumferentia'lly than the inwardly projecting end lip and smaller circinnferentially than the normal perimeter of said wall of said other member, forming a socket for the wall of the other member, whereby said projecting resilient lip may engage within saidgroove to secure said frame, and contained ornament to said article of ewelry.

4. In combination, anornament, a frame substantially surrounding the side of said ornament and firmly retaining said ornament within having a downwardly projecting wall having a groove. extending continuously around the outer side thereof spaced from the end-thereof and terminating in an inwardly projecting continuous lip below said groove and an article of'jewelr-y having a socket having an upwardly and inwardly projecting wall substantially terminating in an inwardly projecting continuous lip slightly larger circumferentially than the in wardly projecting lip of said frame wall and smaller circumferentially than the normal perimeter of said wall of said frame, one of said walls being resilient, whereby when said frame is pressed within said socket said inwardly projecting socket lip may expand and engage within said groove to secure said frame and contained ornament within said socket;

5. In combination an ornament, a frame substantially surrounding the side of said ornament and firmly retaining said ornament within and havin a downwardly projecting wall and an article of jewelry having an upwardly projecting wall, one of said walls being resilient and the projecting wall of one of said members having a groove extending continuously around a side thereof spaced from one end thereof and terminating in an inwardly projecting 1i beyond said groove and the projecting Wal of theother of said members substantially terminating in a projecting continuous lip slightly larger circumferently than the inwardly projecting lip of said other member and smaller circumferentially than the normal perimeter of said wall of the other member forming a socket for the wall of the other member, whereby said projecting lip may engage within said groove to secure said frame and contained ornament to said artlcle of ewelry. o

In testimony whereof I afiix my s1gnature.

- JOHN FITZGERALD. 

